Toyota invests in on-site cogeneration

Toyota Motor Corp will install eight natural gas-fired cogeneration systems at its major plants in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture by September, according to a report in the Japan Times.

On-site generators will now supply 30% of the power demand of Toyota’s 12 Aichi plants, a rise of 10 percentage points. In the wake of nuclear shutdowns across Japan, Toyota aims to curb the risk of power cuts, said a company official.

‘We have decided to introduce the systems in light of risks regarding electricity supply and demand from the summer,’ said the official, according to the newspaper.

In the Aichi Prefecture, Toyota plans to install the power cogeneration systems at its Motomachi plant, which makes Crown models, and the Tsutsumi plant where Prius hybrid vehicles are manufactured.

The automaker aims to maintain its current production level, which has recovered from the tsunami in March as well as floods in Thailand last year.